12. Shortly before Prorogation on 11 November,
tributes were paid to the hereditary peers for their major contribution
and their dedication to Parliament and the nation over the centuries.
Thereafter, a reception was held by the House in the Royal Gallery
to mark the occasion.

13. Several unusual procedures occurred during
the passage of the Bill. Examples were the motions, agreed to
(on division), to refer two questions about the effect of the
Bill to the Committee for Privileges. The referred questions were:

whether the Bill would, if enacted, affect the
rights of those hereditary peers who have answered to their Writ
of Summons before the Bill receives Royal Assent to continue to
sit and vote throughout the present Parliament; and

whether the Bill would, if enacted, breach the
provisions of the 1706 Treaty of Union between England and Scotland,
in particular the provision in the Treaty guaranteeing 16 seats
to representative peers of Scotland.

14. The Committee met in October and, after hearing
counsel, reported, in respect of the first reference, that the
Bill as drafted would achieve its objective of removing the rights
to sit and vote from all hereditary peers who had answered to
their Writs from the end of the session; and, in respect of the
second reference, that the Bill, if enacted, would not breach
the provisions of the Treaty.